Local Flavours, Familiar Faces!
BC Association of Farmers' Markets
Farmers' markets operate in every type of community across British Columbia from cities and suburbs to rural communities. Markets vary in size and sophistication, from large sheltered public markets to a few farmers with their trucks parked next to each other in a parking lot or farm field. Now that's fresh!
FMNCP :: News Releases
News Releases
February 2010
Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project Cancelled Due to Lack of Funding
September 2009
FAMILIES EAT LOCAL, NUTRITIOUS FOOD
The Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Project is in its third season of helping families eat local, nutritious food and supporting local farmers across British Columbia. An initiative of the BC Association of Farmers' Markets and currently funded by the province of British Columbia, the Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Project is expected to reach over 1200 families and children in the 2009 season, creating better access to healthy, locally grown food.
The innovative 17 week project — the first of its kind in Canada — provides $15 per week in coupons to low-income families that will be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy or fresh cut herbs at participating farmers' markets.
Participating families are low-income with children and low-income pregnant women, actively participating in a designated cooking & skill building program. Families develop & build knowledge and skill in the preparation of healthy, nutritious meals using fresh food. The coupons allow families to put into action what they are learning in the cooking & skill-building programs.
The Farmers' Market Nutrition and Coupon Project also supports local farmers and communities, by keeping food local, and supporting local farmers. "It's a win-win situation," said Mary Forstbauer, president of the B.C. Association of Farmers' Markets. "It's helping families to eat more healthy foods while helping farmers stay farming." "The Association is proud to partner with the Ministry of Housing & Social Development and local cooking & skill-building groups to support food producers, low-income families and healthy communities."
| Community | Farmers' Market | Cooking & Skill-building Program |
| Prince George | Prince George Farmers' Market | Northern Family Health Society |
| Smithers | Bulkley Valley Farmers' Market | Smithers Pregnancy Outreach Program |
| Fort St. James | Fort St. James Farmers' Market | Fireweed Collective Society |
| Kelowna | Kelowna Farmers' & Crafters' Market | The Bridge Youth & Family Services |
| Vernon | Vernon Farmers' Market | First Nations Friendship Centre |
| Revelstoke | Revelstoke Farmers' Market | Community Connections |
| Nelson | Nelson Farmers' Market | Kootenay Kids |
| Coquitlam | Coquitlam Farmers Market | Healthy Babies Program |
| Abbotsford | Abbotsford Farm & Country Market | Abbotsford Community Services |
| New Westminster | Royal City Farmers' Market | Baby and Me Program |
| Courtenay | Comox Valley Farmers' Market | Comox Valley Family Services |
| Victoria | Moss Street Market | Victoria Native Friendship Centre |
| Nanaimo | Our Neighbourhood Farmers' Market | Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre Nanaimo Community Kitchens |
| Vancouver | Your Local Farmers' Markets: Trout Lake, West End, Kitsilano, Riley Park |
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House Hastings Community Centre Collingwood Neighbourhood House |
| Gibsons | Fiddlehead Farmers' Market | Bellies & Babies Gibsons Health Unit |
| Squamish | Squamish Farmers' Market | Sea to Sky Community Services |
Encouraging British Columbians to take advantage of the availability of locally grown food at farmers' markets supports ActNow BC's goal of encouraging a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise and supports our province's farm community.
